Syracuse Crunch forward Eric Neilson is the type of fighter to take on all comers, and he almost got two for the price of one against Hamilton on Friday.

It started when Neilson bowled over the Bulldogs' Steve Quailer near the Hamilton bench after a whistle in the third. Neilson and Bulldogs brawler Zack Stortini began yapping.

Stortini jumped over the boards for the faceoff, and Neilson stayed out. They both stared at each other, then back up in preparation to drop the gloves when the puck fell.

Neilson said he was excited, because he had never fought Stortini. But at the last second, Hamilton's Kyle Hagel lined up next to Stortini and also looked like he wanted to go at Neilson.

"I think they both wanted it. Storts was the guy I was hoping for. Hags needs to make a name for himself,'' Neilson said.

"I knew I was going to have a fight. They both lined up on my side, asked me to go. I was like, which one boys? Storts said, take your pick. I said I'll take both you guys. Then Hags dropped his glove.''

It was an unfortunate choice by Hagel, as Neilson mauled him.

"It was something that happened real quick,'' Stortini said of the indecision. "Kyle is a competitor as well. We saw something we didn't like out there (the hit on Quailer). It (fighting) is something that you want to do. It's hard to pass up on something that's part of your job.''

In the hallway after the game, Neilson and Stortini exhanged pleasantries like nothing had happened at all.